Historic Preservation District Design Guidelines

DESIGN GUIDELINES
for
OKMULGEE DOWNTOWN
HISTORIC DISTRICT
Okmulgee Historic Preservation Commission
Okmulgee, Oklahoma
'
CREDITS
Design Guidelines for Okmulgee Downlown Hisloric Dislricl
Okmulgee Hlsloric Preservalion Commission
prepared by
Meacham & Associales
Nonnan, Oklahoma
Terry Mabrey, Chairperson
Roben Inglish
Shelly O'Mealey
J.D. Wesley
Wade Hall
Dare! Collins
September 1992
Historic Contexts
Illustrations
Dr. Danney Goble &Terri Myers
WenbingWu
Atknowledgmeot or Support
The activity !bat is the subjoct of this publication bas been financed in part with
Federal funds from the National Park Service, Departmentoflnterior. However,
the contents and opinions do not necessarily reOoct the views or policies of the
Department of the Interior, nor does the mention of trade names or commertial
products constilUte endorsement or recommendations by the Department of the
Interior. The Department of the Interior prohibits discrimination on the basis or
race, color, national origin; or handicap in its federally assisted programs.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
City of Okmulgee Staff
Stephen Gullatt, Community Development Director
Dana Sigmon, Community Development Secretary
Preface
Introduction
History or Downtown Okmulgee
Okmulgee's Native Americans
Commercial History
Okmulgee's African Americans
City and County Government
Transportation
Okmulgee's Architecture
1
3
5
7
9
11
13
The Okmulgee Historic Preservation Commission
General Regulations
Obtaining A Certificate or Appropriateness
16
17
19
Secretary orthe Interior's
Standards for Rehabilitation
Storefronts .
Windows
21
23
26
I
I
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Brick and Stone
Paint
Color
Cleaning and Maintenance
New Construction
Slgnage
Parking Lots Back Door Entrances
Street Accessories
Tax Incentives
Glossary
List of Resources
30
32
33
34
35
40
43
44
45
46
49
Preface
In 1988, a group of Okmulgee cmzens realized that
Okmulgee's downtown was a resource that the city could
not afford to neglect. Already, an enormous effort was
underway to raise funds to restore the Creek Council
House. But, the Council House was only the beginning of
Okmulgee's history; the surrounding downtown
buildings also represented the rich and colorful history of
the city. These same citizens and others began to seek
ways that not only would afford the Council House
restoration, but incentives for building owners to restore
the surrounding downtown buildings. For two years, efforts were made to survey downtown Okmulgee, which
resulted in a nomination of 142 downtown buildings to
the National Register of Historic Places. During this same
time, a historic preservation ordinance was passed and
the Historic Preservation Commission was established. In
conjunction with the restoration of the Council House, it
is only appropriate that the Commission issue Design
Guidelines to assist all of the downtown property owners
in the many private rehabilitation projects which will
follow in the coming years.
Introduction
This booklet is designed for the propeny owners in Okmulgee's
downtown historic district. It provides a history of the downtown,
including the recent historic preservation activities. The boundary
of the district is described and the historic preservation ordinance is
summarized. The process for acquiring a "Certificate of
Appropriateness" is also included. Design guidelines for
rehabilitation of buildings in the downtown district, guidelines for
new construction in the downtown district, and general guidelines
for signage are the focus of the booklet and are intended to define
forpropenyownersawiderangeofaltemativeswhichareappropriate
to maintaining and rehabilitating their historic buildings.
The design guidelines are fashioned after the Secretary of Interior's
Standards for Rehabilitalion and Guidelines for Rehabilitating
Historic Buildings. However, the unique character of Okmulgee's
downtown is specifically addressed and the design solutions are
tailored to fit issues which are distinctive to Okmulgee.
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History of Downtown Okmulgee
In 1868, soon after Okmulgee had been established, two white
merchants, Frederick B. Severs and Columbus Belcher, moved their
business from Shieldsville, a community three miles to the northwest,
to the new site. Within a few years, about fifty log cabins and several
trading stores were gathered there. A portion of one of those
buildings (the west wall and a pan of the rear wall of the Severs
Block) remains and is incorporated into the 1907 Severs Block
(101-113 East Sixth Street). Nonetheless, the town generally
remained a small and isolated village, its size and slumber concealing
both its status as a national capital and its active future as well.
Okmulgee's real growth came with the twentieth century, most of
it in the century's ftrst three decades. As was true for many similar
towns in the area, it floated high atop pools of oil. Early oil strikes
in the vicinityofTulsa found local parallel in 1907, when Okmulgee
County developed its first producing well near the town of Moms.
The 'teens brought even more impressive discoveries at places like
Beggs, Olean, and Wilcox. By 1920, the county was producing
45,000 barrels of oil daily, one sixth of the state's total production.
New fields opened in the 1920's only added to those figures.
Okmulgee was able to profit singularly from these discoveries
because it became more than a haven for lease hounds, roughnecks,
toolpushers, and other oil field transients. The city did become a
home for those, but it also became home to five refineries that were
able to process roughly a third of the county's raw,liquid wealth.
Another nine Okmulgee fmns serviced the surrounding oil fields by
manufacturing or repairing equipment for drilling and processing.
In like way, the city also benefited from the region's exploitation of
another underground, black substance: coal. Leading the state in
coal production, the county was blessed with large and successful
mines, particularly around Henryetta. Okmulgee prospered, too, as
it developed rail connections to the area and provided the headquarters
for at least nine of the county's coal companies.
The city's ability to take advantage of its area's early industrial
activity had direct parallel in its relation to the rich agriculture that
developed in the countryside in the earliest years of Oklahoma's
statehood. A thrivingcouon economy grew up in eastern Oklahoma
in the early 1900s, and Okmulgee became the chief trading center
Page I
for cotton fanners in its own country as well as large portions of its
neighboring counties.
The resulting economic diversity was one reason that Okmulgee was
able to weather early hard times, such as those that accompanied the
very early 1920s. Though oil prices dropped from four to one dollar
per barrel in 1921 and cotton prices reeled in full retreat, the city was
on the verge of its biggest business building boom yet. As those new
structures arose, no fewer than forty ofits residents reached millionaire
status. More common folks pocketed their share of the oil or coal
payrolls or found jobs in one of the four new glass plants or the new
meat packing firm that opened at the decade's end, in 1929.
If the brief and easily forgotten downturn of the early 'twenties had
farmers started west to California. Built upon pillars that were
shaking and crumbling, many downtown businesses failed. Others
cut back and tried to hang on to what they could. ,
few lasting effects, the entire decade of the 'thirties would have
consequences permanently visible and permanently memorable.
Again, oil prices collapsed. This time, though, they reached a dime
a barrel, and the days of a dollar-a-barrel oil came to be remembered
fondly. The unluckiest coal miners lost their jobs. The luckiest
merely had to make do with the steadily dropping wages. Cotton
prices fell through the floor and the cellar, too, and thousands of area
Of course, Okmulgee did survive the Great Depression. But the
process of outmigration that it unleashed long continued. Even
more lasting was another effect-the reversing of expectations of
prosperity today and wealth tomorrow. The Great Depression
ended that era for Okmulgee. But not even the depression could
erase the permanent remainders of the earlier era.
Okmulgee's Native Americans
If Okmulgee's modern history as a city has been dependent upon
commerce nnd industry, its existence is the product of a much
different history, one that dates to Oklahoma's very beginnings.
The lndinn Removal Act of 1830 brought to the area its first
pennnnentsettlers, lndinns of the "Muskogee Confederacy," or the
"Creek Nation." A once powerful band whose domain had stretched
across the southeast of the present United States, these Indinns had
suffered heavily as whites, first Europenns then Americnns, had
encroached upon their lands nnd eroded their nncient ways. The
final blow came in 1830, when Congress passed nnd President
Andrew Johnson signed the lndinn Removal Act Under its terms,
virtually all of the Creek people (along with the Cherokee, Choctaw,
Chickasaw, nnd Seminole Indians) were to be relocated from their
ancestral homes to new lands west of the Mississippi. By 1838,
nearly 15,000 Creeks had been marched under military guard, many
of the Indians chained and shackled, to the newly defined lndinn
Territory. An estimated 40 percent died during the forced exodus
or just afterwards. Included were nearly all of two generations, as
both the very young and the very old perished in numbers that would
have long-term demographic consequences.
In some measure, the subsequent history of the Creeks bore out the
optimism of those, both white and Indian, who had accepted the
tribe's removal as the one way to preserve their identity apart from
overpowering white pressures. In their new lands, they set out to
rebuild their lives nnd nation. As had been true before, they became
a nation of town-dwellers, generally divided (again, as before) into
two recognizable groups. The band known in their old lands as the
Lower Creeks generally built towns in the northern ponions of their
new territory, along the Arkansas and Verdigris rivers. Those
known earlier as the Upper Creeks settled to the south, along the
Deep Fork, Nonh Cnnadian, and South Canadian.
At first, the two divisions funher maintained their historic separation
through two distinct governments, both under hereditary chiefs.
Some union was achieved in 1840, however, as both groups agreed
to send representatives to a unified national council. Soon, the
council meetings had produced a uniform code of written law and,
by 1859, a formal constitution uniting the two bands.
The War Between the States interrupted the rebuilding and shattered
that unity as it also became a war between the Creeks. The Lower
Page 3
Creeks allied with the Confederacy, while the Upper Creeks generally
sided with the Union. The resulting warbroughtreneweddestruction
(perhaps another quarter of the tribe perished, most from hunger and
disease), and peace brought another loss: 3 million acres that were
seized by a vengeful Washington.
officials generally carne to the site only for the brief sessions of the
Creek legislature, known as the council. Then, they tended to pitch
camp near the river. The small community of white traders--a fair
number of blacks lived there,too--generally knew but a sleepy and
peaceful existence.
Peace also brought a new Creek constitution, government, and
capital. At the edge of thick timber along the Deep Fork River, the
Creeks built a two-story, double log cabin, the two portions separated
by a dog-trot and housing separate legislative chambers. By official
resolution, the site was designated "Okmulgee." In 1878, a permanent
sandstone building, the Creek Council House, replaced the primitive
"council house." It remained the official seat of Creek government
as long as that government, itself, continued to exist. Still standing
and used as a museum, it remains a monument to that government
and to those who created it.
At the same time, however, the town's official status gave it a firm
base and made it especially attractive to the traders and others who
resided there permanently. In particular, the disbursement of
federal funds at the capital guaranteed them a certain source of
purchasing power. Ifrelativelyfew Creeks were drawn permanently
to the site of their own capitol, its very presence assured the small
village its creation and continuing existence. Ironically, it was the
process that ended in the dissolution of the Creek's government that
opened the opportunity for the village to become a city.
Although a seat of government, early Okmulgee remained a small
village. As late as 1890, its resident population numbered only 136,
and the total had reached only 400 when the town was incorporated
in 1900. Few of the residents were Indians, for Creek governing
The Creek National Capitol (aka Creek Councii House), built in
1878, remains as one of the few examples of architecture associated
with the Creek tribe. It was listed on the National Register of
Historic Places as a national landmark in 1966.
Commercial History
Lying between Okmulgee'srailroaddepotand its Creek museum is
the oldest part of the city and the part that most bears witness to its
history. The sandstone ponions of the Severs Block ( 101-113 East
6th Stteet) are reminders of the city before it was even a town.
Others buildings go back to the earliest years of this century, years
in which the railroad first came to the area. The Citizens National
Bank Building (part of the Severs Block), the Parkinson-Trent
Mercantile Company Building (100 South Monon), and the Bank
ofCommerceBuilding (l10East6th)all were builtasraillines were
laid; and they all recall just how much difference the railroads made.
Other buildings date and testify to the impact that oil discoveries
made upon the city. The Petroleum Building (circa 1918) and the
McCulloch Building, built in 1926 (108-114 Nonh Grand) were
headquarters for several of the companies that drilled and processed
the area's oil. Sixth Street is lined with business buildings that
reflect the prosperity of Okmulgee's flush times, times when the
city opened movie palaces and opulent theaters like the Hippodrome
(demolished) and the Opera House (demolished). The Orpheum/
Cook Theater, an elaborately designed terra cotta building was built
in 1921 and remains standing at 210 West 7th. The Okmulgee
County Counhouse (completed in 1918) symbolizes the public
benefits that flowed with early prosperity and the capital legacies
that have outlived it.
The following buildings are particularly significant to the history of
commerce in Okmulgee:
Severs Block. This building, located at 101-113 East 6th Street,
was constructed in 1884 by Frederick Severs, an early day Okmulgee
merchant and trader. Severs came to the Creek Nation in 1868 and
built the F. B. Severs General Store (the west sandstone wall), now
incorporated as part of the Severs Block (1906). Severs was an
imponant businessman in Okmulgee for many years and had
numerous businesses including the F. B. Severs Cotton Gin, Grist
Mill, and Saw Mill.
Parkinson-Trent Mercantile Company Building. This building,
located at 100 South Monon, was constructed in 1901 by Josiah
CharlesTrentandJamesParkinson. Parkinson and Trent were early
day Okmulgee merchants and sold everything from shoes to hardware
and groceries in their store. It is the largest and most elaborately
Page 5
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designed building constructed before statehood in
Bank of Commerce. Located at 110 East 6th, the Bank of
Commerce was constructed in 1902 by A. D. Kennedy. The interior
of the bank remains unchanged and is a unique and outstanding
example of an early-day bank lobby.
Cook/Orpheum Theater. This theater was built in 1921 by L. H.
D. Cook and designed by Smith, Rea, Lovitt and Senter from Kansas
City, Missouri. Its elaborate terra cotta exterior and interior remain
intact and it is an excellent example of a early twentieth century
vaudeville theater. The backstage remains unchanged and has the
original backdropcunain, the orchestra pit, and the actors' changing
rooms.
Commerce Building. Located at 117-121 S.Grand and built 1921,
the Commerce Building is the tallest and most grandiose office
building constructed during the oil boom days of Okmulgee.
Designed by Smith and Senter, the eight-story building has an
ornate exterior of terra cotta.
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McCulloch Building. The McCulloch Building, at 116 North
Grand, was constructed by James William McCulloch and designed
by Smith and Senter. McCulloch forrned the Independent Oil and
Gas Company, one of the largest early oil and gas businesses in the
area. It was later absorbed by Phillips Petroleum company. In 1926
McCulloch began a new company, McCulloch Oil Company, and
erected the McCulloch Building that same year.
Petroleum Building. Located at 408 West 6th, the Petroleum
Building was built circa 1918. This five story building was the first
large office building constructed in downtown Okmulgee.
Okmulgee's African-Americans
The development of Okmulgee's commercial district was also due
to a significant involvement of the community's black residents,
resulting in a extant concentration of commercial buildings on East
Fifth Street and several other buildings scattered throughout the
downtown area. The black commercial district is located on Fifth
Street between the cast400 block and the cast 600 block, directly
across Okmulgee Creek from the St. Louis and San Francisco
Depot. Once connected by a bridge to the depot, some of the original
buildings continue to be used by members of the black community.
Approximately 1,000 slaves and an unknown number of others of
African descent accompanied the Creek Indians when they left
Alabama and Georgia for Indian Territory in the mid-1830s. After
the Civil War these former sh!VeS were adopted into the Creek tribe
and were known as "Creek Freedman." Later, during the 1880s and
~~~~~~i~~
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the 1890s, the Freedman were joined by other blacks who were
migrating from the South looking for opportunities for land
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After the Curtis Act of 1898 abolished
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the tribal court system, the Dawes Commission established allotments
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and the fuU-blood Creeks and Creek Freedman were each given
Many of the full-bloods chose rural sites, while the
Page 7
majority of the Creek Freedman elected to stay near Okmulgee.
Some of the acreages chosen by the Creek Freedman were adjacent
to the original townsite. The Creek Freedman were among the fmt
citizens of Okmulgee and were responsible for some of the early
physical development of the city. These buildings include a hotel
constructed by Silas Smith and a gambling parlor built by Charley
Sneed. Neither building remains standing.
On the 600 block of East Sixth Street, the main artery for downtown
Okmulgee, several black businessmen constructed buildings during
the 1910s. W. S. Sneed, a black man of Creek descent, built two
adjacent buildings. These two buildings, the Sneed Building (621
East Sixth) and theW. S. Sneed Building (623 East Sixth) remain
standing. Other buildings, once owned by African-American
businessmen and located in the same block, are no longer extant
During the first decade of the century, particularly before statehood
in 1907 and the adoption of segregation laws, black residents
constructed buildings and operated businesses among the white
Okmulgee settlen. One of the oldest buildings in the downtown, the
1902 Key Block located at 200 N. Morton, was built by a Creek
Freedman. Situated diagonally across from the. Old City Hall
(1908), this building was erected in 1902 by Hiram Key. It was the
site of a dry goods and grocery store operated by John B. and Annie
Key. However, as the white community continued to expand as a
result of the developing oil economy, the black businesses were
· pushed to the northeast edge of downtown Okmulgee on the 300700 blocks of East Fifth and Sixth Streets.
Between 1904 and 1929 a separate black commercial district
developed on the 300-700 blocks of East Fifth Street. Both black
retail and service-related businesses disappeared from the core of
the downtown area and relocated in this area. By 1911 the black
district was filled with one- and two-story frame buildings, later to
be replaced with simple brick establishments. The majority of the
brick buildings were built between 1913 and 1925.
The one- and two-story brick buildings on East Fifth Street were
built by professional men who maintained their own offices in the
buildings and rented the remaining spaces. They include the 1913
Glass Building (419 East Fifth), tile circa 1915 Taylor Building
City and County Government
(421 East Fifth),the 1915 Harrison Block (515-519 East Fifth), the
1920 White Building (509 EastFifth), the 1920Copeland Building
(607 East Fifth), and the H & H Building, located at 501 East Fifth
and built in 1920. Early businesses located in these buildings
include shoe and clothing stores, general merchandise and grocery
stores, a tire store, restaurants, a dance hall, and a movie theater.
Although never occupied by black businesses, the Key Block at
309-315 West Seventh and the Key Building (demolished) at 114116 East Seventh were built in 1919 by John B. Key, a local black
entrepreneur.
The 1928 Masonic Lodge (503 East Fifth) is also located in the
black commercial district. Built in 1928, the Masonic symbol is
prominently displayed in the center of the building just below the
parapet wall. James Roper, Okmulgee's black postmaster (18981901), was known to be a Mason as early as 1901. In 1916 several
black lodges were listed in the city directory; however, many black
social and fraternal groups met in private residences and at churches.
This is the only building constructed in Okmulgee to be used as a
black lodge.
Government remains an important activity for this town that began
as an Indian capital. The Creek government, having spent its last
years disposing of the nation's assets, dissolved with Oklahoma's
admission to the Union in 1907. The state's government was based
upon a constitution written by an elected convention that assembled
in Guthrie from late 1906 through early 1907. Not least of its
responsibilities was to define county boundaries and designate
county seats. This was especially important for the former Indian
Territory, since no such entities as yet existed. Okmulgee won the
seat of the newly created county that also took the name Okmulgee.
The city's victory and prominence doubtlessly was indebted chiefly
to its population. With nearly 2,322 residents, it was more than
twice as populous as Henryetta and triple the size of Beggs, its
nearest competitors for the honor.
County seat status was, however, more than an honor. Among other
things, it assured the city a steady source of new business: the
business of government. Generally independent of the ebbs and
flows of the economy, that business assured the city its continuing
prominence in its immediate area.
Page 9
As special categories of government, Jaw and education also have
been major elements of Okmulgee's regional stature. The county
courthouse, a brick and limestone building completed in 1917, is
site of legal work ranging from the filing of birth and marriag!~e;--------JJl
records to the administration of wills. County government has ~n
a tradition in the United States since before the Revolution and
courthouses came to symbolize the economic aspirations, local
pride, and civic ideals of a community. Often the architectural
designs which were chosen illustrated the latest technology.
The late 1880s were dominated by the architectural designs of H. H.
Richardson, the style chosen for the 1908 Okmulgee City Hall.
Old Okmulgee City Hall. Built in 1908, the old Okmulgee City
Hall is reminiscent of the Victorian em. Located alliS North
Morton, this Richardson ian Romanesque building is accentuated by
a three-story tower at its northeast comer. It is significant as an r;;;~~
excellent example of an early twentieth-century city hall. It is one
of the few government buildings with this design that remains
standing in Oklahoma.
City halls, a derivative of the "town hall,"becameincreasingly more
important as municipal governments expanded. At the tum of the
century, many city halls were built to include all departments,
including administration, the police, and the fire department. The
architecture generally reflected the popular styles of the times and
many late 19th-century city halls were Richardson ian Romanesque
buildings, the style chosen by the citizens of Okmulgee in 1908. The
old Okmulgee City Hall was built to house each of these functions,
with the police department in the basement and the fJre department
in the rear.
I
Transportation
Okmulgee's transformation from a sleepy Creek capital and trading
site to a regional commercial center was indebted to its access to its
area's resources. That, in tum, largely depended upon its access to
modem transportation. The Indians and their government made
Okmulgee a village. The whites and their railroads made it a city.
However, the construction of Oklahoma's courthouses did not
begin until 1907, after statehood, when Beaux-Arts academicism
was popular. The Okmulgee County Courthouse is an excellent
example of this style.
Okmulgee County Courthouse. Builtin 1917 ,locatedat314 West
7th, the Okmulgee County Courthouse is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places in a thematic nomination of Oklahoma
courthouses.
The Okmulgee Post Office and Federal Courthouse, built in
1931-1932 and located at 105 West 4th, testifies to the significance
of a city of unusual judicial distinction for one its size. One of only
a handful offederal courthouses built outside of Oklahoma City and
Tulsa, the Okmulgee Post Office and Federal Courthouse is an
excellent example of the Art Deco styled public building.
Early commerce-much of it the export of animal pelt8---{)epended
upon steamboats that ascended the Arkansas River to Muskogee.
Private freighters ran wagons to the river landing over crude "roads"
that were always rough and often imaginary. Stage coach lines
likewise jolted passengers from Okmulgee to Muskogee, Vinita,
and other places.
It was the railroad that brought the modem world to Okmulgee and
took Okmulgee squarely into it. In the treaties that formalized the
Civil War's end, the federal government had forced the Indian
Territory tribes to grant right-of-way for the completion of one
north-south and one east-west railway. In 1890, the United States
Supreme Court declared that Washington held eminent domain
over the Indian lands and, thus, could grant more right-of-way to
more lines unilaterally. The result was a spreading network of
Page II
~·----
railroads that eventually opened
to a trading area much
larger than that available by stage coach, freight wagon, or river
steamer.
The Saint Louis and San Francisco (the "Frisco") eventually won
the right to operate the east-west line across the Indian lands. One
of its subsidiaries, the Oklahoma and Southern Railway, surveyed
a route from Sapulpa, Indian Territory, to Denison, Texas, in the
winter of 1899. The surveyors identified three potential routes
through the Creek capital: one near the council house, one-halfmile east, and one still further east. The company selected the
second alternative and laid out a townsite of I 60 acres extending
one-half mile from the capital to the new switch and depot. Separated
from the commercial district by Okmulgee Creek, the St. Louis and
San Francisco Depot and a small group of commercial buildings
located on the east side of the tracks, remain today as evidence of the
age of the railroad.
The railroad thereby had defined not only Okmulgee's business
geography but its business future as well. Within six years of the
railroad's completion, the town's population grew by more than 550
percent. It was the railroad that brought those people to Okmulgee,
and it was the railroad that opened to them large areas of the new
state's imminent industrial advance as well as a small cotton
principality.
In addition to the depot the Sixth Street Bridge, built ca. 1902, is
also considered a significant struct•ue. It is constructed with a
sandstone arch and crosses Okmulgee Creek.
St. Louis and San Fran~isco Depot. Built in 1911,the St. Louis and
San Francisco Depot is located at the far eastern edge of the
Okmulgee Downtown Historic District.
Sixth Street Bridge. Built before the turn of the century, it is
located at the far eastern edge of the Okmulgee Downtown Historic
District and is the link between several buildings located on the east
side of Okmulgee Creek with the rest of the downtown.
•
Okmulgee's
· The Okmulgee Downtown Historic District clearly illustmtes the
history of the city through its large and widely varied collection of
commercial buildings. The buildings in the downtown range from
the Cleek National Capitol, built in 1878, to the five-, six-, and
eight-story buildings constructed during late 'teens and 'twenties of
the oil boom. Architectural styles include Early Commercial,
Renaissance Revival, Richanlsonian Romanesque, Italian Revival,
Italian Renaissance Revival, Second Renaissance Revival, Spanish
Colonial Revival, Neoclassical Revival, Beaux Ans, Italianate, and
Art Deco.
The pn:dominant architectural style is Early Commercial, a style
characterized by simply designed storefronts with brick or wooden
bulkheads, large plate glass windows, clerestory windows, and
corbeled brick or pressed tin cornices. Generally twenty-five feet
or fifty feet in width, the facade is usually framed with engaged brick
columns and one to three stories in heighl The second noor
windows are genemlly single or paired, wooden, double-hung
sashes with decorative sills and lintels of limestone, sandstone, or
brick.
Page 13
Mixed among the Early Commercial buildings are examples of
almost every archilectuial style built during the first quarter of the
twentieth century. The oldest building in the disttict is the Creek
National CapitoVCreek Council House, builtin 1878in theltallanate
style, a style popular about 1840 until1885. The Council House at
100 West 6th displays many features characteristic of the style
including a low-pitched roof, a square cupola, tall, narrow windows,
and widely overhanging eaves supported by decomtive brackets.
Some of the earliest buildings, constructed at the tum of the century,
are located directly across from the Council House on the square and
include the Parkinson-Trent Building at 100 South Morton, built
190 I, and I04 South Morton, built circa 1902. These two buildings
form one of the cornerstones of the downtown square and are
exceUent examples of the Richardsonian Romanesque style of
architecture. Architectural elements which are characteristic of the
style and found on these two buildings include round-headed arches
outlined with rough-faced, local sandstone and brick-and-sandstone
turrets, which project above the parapet of the building. The old
Okmulgee City Hall Building, built several years later in 1908, is
also a Richardsonian Romanesque design. A square tower with a
convex roof covered in pressed metal distinguishes this building.
Alsocharacteristic of the style are the rusticated sandstone foundation
and arched windows. The Salvation Army Citadel at 213 South
Orand reflects a revival of the earlier Romanesque Revival styles.
Italian Renaissance Revival style buildings include the Kennedy
Building located at 100-102 East 6th and built circa 1902 and the
building at 207-209 East 6th Street, built circa 1918. These two
buildings each have features typical of the style, popular from 1890
until the mid-1930s, including widely overhanging, pressed-tin
cornices with bmckets and arched windows.
The Neoclassical Revival style, popular from 1895 until after
World War U, is generally characterized by classical columns with
Ionic or Corinthian capitals and classical pediments. The Bank of
Commerce, located at 110 East 6th and built circa 1902, features
these elements. The Okmulgee County Courthouse, built in 1917,
features classical columns, which are used on each of the four
facades and the protruding circular element which houses the
courtroom.
The Beaux Arts, an ornate classical style popular between the midIS 80s and 1930, influenced the design of the Commerce Building
at 117-119 South Grand, builtin 1921. The wall surfaces of both of
these buildings are covered with decorative designs, quoins, and
columns. The masonry walls of both buildings are also smooth and
light-colored, another characteristic of the style.
The Commerce Building, the McCulloch Building aqd the Cook/
Orpheum Theater were designed by Leon B. Senter, who also
designed the Okmulgee library, which lies just outside the district.
Senter came to Okmulgee as a branch manager for the firm of Smith,
Rea and Lovitt of Kansas City, Missouri, in 1915. He continued to
work with Smith after he moved to Tulsa and designed the Philcade
Building in 1930 for Waite Phillips. Senter was the first architect
to be licensed in Oklahoma.
Morton, built circa 1918, is a three-story building with a simply
designed pent roof of clay tiles. This feature was commonly used
to distinguish the Spanish Eclectic style. The most elaborate
derivation of Spanish architecture, the Spanish Baroque Revival,
graces the Cook/Orpheum Theater, located at 210 West 7th and
built in 1921. The entire facade and the lobby are clad with terra
cotta. Solomoniccolumns, portal windows, and gargoyles (comical/
dramatic faces) provide rich ornamentation.
The Mission Revival style and the Spanish Eclectic Revival style
were popular throughout the southwest in the late 'teens and
'twenties. Several downtown buildings, including that at 306 West
6th and the Roberts Building at 106 West 7th have some
characteristics of the style. The Belmont Hotel at 300 North
The Okmulgee Downtown Historic District has an excellent
collection of commercial buildings constructed from shortly before
the turn of the century until the early 1930s. Overall, the district has
a high degree of architectural integrity and continues to reflect the
historic character of Okmulgee's downtown.
Page 15
The Okmulgee
Historic Preservation Commission
The Okmulgee Historic Preservation Commission was established
in 1988 as part of the Historic Preservation Ordinance which was
passed by the City Council to provide protection to the Okmulgee
Historic Downtown District. The Historic District is an overlay
zoning district which does not change the use of the property, but is
limited to regulations concerning the erection, moving, demolition,
removal, reconsiruction, restoration, or alteration of the exterior of
any structure which is located within a designated historic district.
It is not the intent of the Historic Preservation Ordinance to limit
new construction to any one period or architectural style, but to
preserve the integrity of historic and architectural resources and to
insure the compatibility of new work constructed in the vicinity.
The main responsibility of the Historic Preservation Commission is
to review requests for Building and Demolition permits for designed
historic structures or within any area designated as an historic
district and to issue or deny Certificates of Appropriateness for
applicable types ofrequests.
In general, the review criteria, procedural policies and consequences
of the decisions rendered will extend beyond the tenure of any
Commission members; historically and architecturally insignificant
structures, generally referred to as noncontributing resources, will
be controlled only to the degree necessary to make them compatible
with the general atmosphere of the district; and that the Commission
shall utilize the "Secretary of the Interior's Standards for
Rehabilitation."
These guidelines will not be limited to the Okmulgee Downtown
Historic district, but will apply to any and all future historic districts
which are designated by the Okmulgee City Council.
General Regulations
Demolition
To avoid the loss of historic structures, the Okmulgee Historic
Preservation Commission carefully regulates proposed demolitions
in the downtown historic district. In general, applications for
demolitions can only be approved if the Okmulgee Historic
Preservation Commission determines that the building cannot
produce a reasonable economic return as presently controlled and
that no means of preserving the structure has been found.
If a demolition request is denied by the Historic Preservation
Commission, the Commission and City staff will work with the
property owner to find an alternative solution. The Historic
Preservation Ordinance sets time limits to pursue these alternatives.
If the demolition moratorium expires with no solution, City Council
can approve demolition if it determines that there is no reasonable
way to preserve the building.
Hardship
The Historic Preservation Ordinance design guidelines contain a
hardship clause allowing flexibility in design review for special
cases. If a property owner feels that a decision by the Commission
causes an undue financial burden, the Commission has the
responsibility to further discuss and review the case, offering
alternative rehabilitation solutions orreuse options for the property.
City staff, the Commission, and the property owner are directed to
work together to determine the best approach to meeting the
property owners' needs, while maintaining the historical character
of the district by avoiding unnecessary demolition and inappropriate
remodeling.
Procedures
To insure that building projects in the Okmulgee Downtown Historic
District are compatible with the traditional architectural character
of the downtown, in most instances property owners must receive
a "Certificate of Appropriateness" from the City before they begin
work. A "Certificate of Appropriateness" certifies that the owner
has complied with the design guidelines and may proceed with the
proposed work. It is granted by the Okmulgee Historic Preservation
Commission or by the Planning Departmentstaffforthe Commission.
Page 17
A Certificate of Appropriateness is required for •••
•
Exterior Alterations and Additions to existing
buildings
•
New Construction
•
Demolition
•
Construction or enlargement ofa driveway or parking
area
• Land Use - uses as governed by the underlying zoning.
A Certificate of Appropriateness is NOT required for ...
•
Interior Work -construction, alteration or demolition
that affects only the interior of a building.
•
Routine Maintenance - work that does not alter the
appearance of the building (reroofing, window repairs,
etc.)
• General paint colors and plant selection - staff can
provide interested applicants with recommendations for
appropriate paint colors or plant materials.
If you are considering a project in the downtown historic district,
please call the City Planning Depanment at 756-4060. Staff will be
glad to discuss the project and explain the procedure.
CITY OF OKMULGEE OKLAHOMA
IDSTORIC PRI!SERVATION COilfliOSSION
ffiSTORIC DISTRICT OR PROPERTY NAME:
To Obtain
A "Certificate of Appropriateness"
PROPERTY LOCATION:
LEGAL DESCRIPTION:
Application and Notification
APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATI!NHSS: (Allam Ulra oh.... lrmore
tpac:e 11 needed.)
DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED WORK1 (aacncnl oudlne or material• and chanaa lo be
accomplished)
PRESENT USE 011' PROPERTY: (e..., omce, nlalldore, co•merdal)
PRESENT ZONING: ( e.a, C-4, C-5, C·6, C-7)
Application forms are available from the City Planning Department.
Applicants should review their proposed projects with City staff
prior to preparing final plans and submitting a formal application.
The applicant must furnish two (2) copies of all detailed plans,
elevations, perspectives and specifications to the director of
Community Development. The information should include
materials, color, and otherrelevant details concerning the proposed
project. Photographs of the property and surrounding properties
may also be submitted if the applicant feels they would be helpful
in explaining the project to the Commission.
OWNER/APPLICATION:--:;;;;---------------liilame
Addicu and Phone Number
Review and Approval
REPRKSENTA11VEI (If olber I ban owner, audlu an:blted, atlol'lleJ, or contractor)
ame
Jlle
SIONATVREANDDATJ!: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Appllcalloo Fee Required: $10.00
Site Plan and Hlevatlonsl Applkatlon mud be accompanied by bolb.
Nut Public Har1DI Date I
The Okmulgee City Staff will review the application materials and
prepare a report on the project for the Commission, including a
summary of the proposal and recommendations for the Commission's
action. A copy of the staff report and meeting agenda is mailed to
the applicant prior to the public hearing.
1blrd Wtdnaday ead:l moatb/3:30 p.m. at CllJ Hall
Page 19
At the public hearing, the Commission hears testimony from City
staff, the applicant, and any other interested party regarding the
application. The Commission will determine if the proposed
change is consistent with the design guidelines, does not hann the
historic or architectural character of the property or the character of
the downtown, and does not change distinguishing original
characteristics of the property.
I
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The Commission may approve the application as presented, approve
the application with certain conditions, deny the application, or
defer action, requesting changes to the proposed design or additional
information on the project for review at a future hearing.
/_
are stamped by City staff Indicating approval by the Commission
prior to submitting an application for a building permit.
Following the public hearing, the applicant is provided with a letter
indicating the action taken by the Commission and spelling out any
required conditions.
Appeal
The applicant is responsible for obtaining a building permit and any
other approvals (zoning variances, health department certifications,
etc.) that may be required for their project Final plans for the project
Any decision by City staffregarding a Certificate of Appropriateness
may be appealed to the Historic Preservation Commission. Any
decision by the Commission may be appealed to the City Council.
The Secretary of the Interior's
Standards for Rehabilitation
The Standards that follow were originally published in 1977 and revised in 1990. They pertain to historic buildings of all materials, construction
types, sizes, and occupancy and encompass the exterior and the interior of historic buildings. The Standards also encompass related landscape
features and the building's site and environment as well as attached, adjacent or related new construction.
1. A property shall be used for its historic purpose or be placed in
a new use that requires minimal change to the defining characteristics
of the building and its site and environment.
2. The historic character of a property shall be retained and
preserved. The removal of historic materials or alteration of
features and spaces that characterize a property shall be avoided.
3. Each property shall be recognized as a physical record ofits time,
place, and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical
development, such as adding conjectural features or architectural
elements from other buildings, shall not be undertaken.
4. Most properties change over time; those changes that have
acquired historic significance in their own right shall be retained and
preserved.
5. Distinctive features, finishes, and constmction techniques or
examples of craftsmanship that characterize a property shall be
preserved.
I
I
I
6. Deteriomted historic features shall be repaired mther than
replaced. When the severity of deterioration requires replacement
of a distinctive features, the new feature shall match the old in
design, color, texture, and other visual quality and, where possible,
materials. Replacement of missing features shall be substantiated
· by documentary, physical , or pictorial evidence.
7. Chemical or physical treatments, such as sandblasting, that cause
damage to historic materials shall not be used. The surface cleaning
of stmctures, if appropriate, shall be undertaken using the gentlest
means possible.
8. Significant archeological resources affected by a project shall be
protected and preserved. If such resources must be disturbed,
mitigation measures shall be undertaken.
9. New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction
shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the property.
The new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be
compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features
to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment.
10. New additions and adjacent or related new construction shall be
undertaken in such a manner that if removed in the future, the
essential form and integrity of the historic property and its
environment would be unimpaired.
Page 21
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Storefronts
Storefronts play an most important role in the overall character of
the downtown. However, because they are used as part of the store's
advertising and merchandising strategy to draw customers and
increase business, they are often altered to meet the needs of a new
business. Today, Okmulgee's downtown is changing; it's best
advertisement is the fact that the downtown buildings are historic
buildings and building owners and merchants are becoming aware
that their "old" buildings are not just ''old," but also historically
significant.
'
When renovating storefronts, Do...
1. Identify, retain, and preserve storefronts-and their functional
and decorative features-that are important in defining the
overall historic character of the building such as display windows,
signs, doors, transoms, kick plates, comer posts, andentablatures.
Try to locate historic photographs that may reveal original
features that may be covered up or missing.
2. Protect and maintain masonry, wood, and architectural metals
which comprise storefronts through appropriate treatments such
as cleaning, rust removal, limited paint removal, and reapplication
of protective coating systems. Sometimes cleaning and minor
maintenance will be all that is required.
3. Protect storefronts against arson and vandalism before work
begins by boarding up windows and installing alarm systems.
4. Evaluate the overall condition ofstorefront materials to determine
whether more than protection and maintenance are required,
that is, if repairs to features will be necessary.
S. Repair storefronts by reinforcing the historic materials. Repairs
will also include the limited replacement in kind-or with
compatible substitute materials-of those extensively
deteriorated or missing parts of storefronts where there are
surviving prototypes such as transoms, kick plates, pilasters, or
signs.
Page 23
6. Replace in kind an entire storefront that is too deteriorated to
repair-if the overall form and detailing are still evident-using
the physical evidence to guide the new work. If using the same
materials is not technically or economically feasible, then
compatible substitute materials may be considered.
Don't •••
1. Remove or radically change storefronts-and their featureswhich are important in defining the overall historic character of
the building so that, as a result, the character is diminished.
2. Change the storefront so that is appears residential rather than
commercial in character.
3. Introduce shutters, mansard overhangings, wood shakes, and
etc., if they cannot be documented historically.
5. Strip storefronts of historic material such as wood, cast iron,
terra cotta, Carrara glass, and brick.
6. Replace an entire storefront when repair of materials and limited
replacement of its parts are appropriate.
7. Use substitute material for the replacement parts that does not
covey the same visual appearance as the surviving parts of the
storefront or that is physically or chemically incompatible.
8. Remove a storefront that is unrepairable and not replace it; or
replace it with a new storefront that does not convey the same
visual appearance.
Design for Missing Historic Features
Do...
4. Change the location of a storefront's main entrance.
Design and construct a new storefront when the historic storefront
is completely missing. The new design may be an accurate restoration
Parts of a Storefront
f-- Cornice
J Window Hoods
using historical, pictorial, and physical documentation; or it may be
a new design that is compatible with the size, scale, material, and
color of the historic building. Such new design should generally be
flush with the facade; and the treatment of secondary design
elements, such as awnings or signs, kept as simple as possible.
D DD
Window Sills ~
Don't...
+
I
Masonry Wall
Clerestories
14
DOD ODD
Display
Windows
I
In
II
I
II I
r-~
Create a false historical appearance because the replaced storefront
is based on insufficient historical, pictorial, and physical
documentation.
Pilasters
Introduce a new design that is incompatible in size, scale, material,
and color.
Use new illuminated signs; inappropriately scaled signs and logos;
signs that project overt he sidewalk unless they were a characteristic
featuresofthe historic building; orothertypes of signs that obscure,
damage, or destroy remaining character-defining features of the
historic building.
Kick p latesJ
Page 25
Windows
Windows are important to the character of historic buildings. The
retention of storefront windows, clerestories, and the single, doublehung wooden windows gene located in the upper floors of historic
building is always desirable. H windows are missing or severely
deteriorated and must be replaced, it is important to consider the
original shape, pattern, and material of the original window and use
this as a guide for the replacement.
Historic wooden windows can be made energy efficient by repairing
the original window and adding a high quality storm window. In
commercial buildings, interior storm windows should be considered
if energy efficiency is desired.
Retaining as much of the original historic building fabric is an
important consideration in rehabilitation projects and historic wooden
windows which are repaired and properly maintained should last as
long as replacement windows.
When renovating windows, Do•••
1. Identify, retain, and preserve historic windows-and their
functional and decorative features-that are important in
defining the overall historic character of the building.
2. Protect and maintain masonry, wood, and architectural
metals which comprise windows through appropriate
treatments such as regular maintenance, limited paint
removal, and reapplication of protective coating systems.
3. Evaluate the overall condition ofhistoric window materials
to determine whether more than protection and maintenance
are required, that is, if repairs to features will be necessary.
4. Repair windows by reinforcing the historic materials.
Repairs will also include the limited replacement in kindor with compatible substitute materials-_of those
extensively deteriorated or missing parts of the window
where there are surviving prototypes such as window
surrounds, window sashes, and or'.ginal glazing.
!
I-
5. Replace in kind windows that are too deteriorated to repair-if
the overall fonn and detailing are still evident-using the
physical evidence to guide the new work. If using the same
materials is not technically or economically feasible, then
compatible substitute materials may be considered.
Don't. ..
1. Remove or radically change historic windows-and their
features-which are important in defining the overall historic
character of the building so that, as a result, the character is
diminished.
2. Change the windows so that they have a residential appearance
rather than commercial character.
3. Change the location of a historic windows.
4. Replace historic windows when repair of materials and limited
replacement of its parts are appropriate. Avoid replacing
wooden windows with metal or aluminum windows whenever
possible.
5. Use substitute material for the replacement pans that does not
covey the same visual appearance as the surviving parts of the
storefront or that is physically or chemically incompatible.
6. Remove a historic window that is unrepairable and not replace
it; orreplace it with a new window that does not convey the same
visual appearance. Replacing clear glazing with tinted glazing
is not allowed.
Page 27
Doors
Doors play an important role in scheme of any commercial building;
it is the customer's point of entry into the business. Wooden doors
can maintain a long life if properly maintained.
When renovating doors, Do...
1. Identify, retain, and preserve historic doors-and their functional
and decorative features-that are important in defining the
overall historic character of the building.
2. Protect and maintain wood, glazing, and hardware which
comprise doors through appropriate treatments such as cleaning,
limited paint removal, and reapplication of protective coating
systems.
3. Evaluate the overall condition of historic doors to determine
whether more than protection and maintenance are required,
that is, if repairs to features will be necessary.
4. Repair doors by reinforcing the historic materials. Repairs will
also include the limited replacement in kind--or with compatible
substitute materials-of those extensively deteriorated or missing
parts of doors where there are surviving prototypes.
5. Replace in kind historic doors that are too deteriorated to
repair-if the overall form and detailing are still evident-using
the physical evidence to guide the new work. If using the same
materials is not technically or economically feasible, then
compatible substitute materials may be considered.
1-
Don't...
l. . Remove doors-and their features-which are Important in
defining the overall historic character of the building so that, as
a result, the character is diminished.
2. Replace historic doors so the appearance is residential rather
than commercial in character.
3. Change the location of a historic door.
4. Replace an historic door when repair of materials and limited
replacement of its parts are appropriate. Avoid replacing
historic wooden doors with aluminum doors.
5. Remove a historic door that is unrepairable and not replace it; or
replace it with a new door that does not convey the same visual
appearance.
Page 29
Brick and Stone
The majority of Okmulgee's downtown buildings are constructed
of brick, sandstone, and limestone. Many early buildings have
sandstone rear and side elevations with brick used for the primary
facade. Sandstone and brick are both used as fire walls. These
materials define the downtown and are an important part of the
character of the downtown. While they are long lasting materials,
regular maintenance must be conducted.
The primary problem with brick or stone buildings is generally the
deterioration of the mortar joints. When this problem occurs then
it is necessary to "repoint" the masonry. The exact physical and
chemical properties of the historic mortar are not ofmajor significance
as long as the new mortar:
• matches the historic mortar in color, texture, and detailing;
• is softer than the brick; and
• is as soft, or softer than the historic mortar.
Repointing can be an expensive and lengthy process and in most
cases a professional architect/consultant should be involved. It is
important that the proper research be conducted prior to the work
and that the contractor/craftsman keep in mind that a repointing
project for a historic building will be slower and more expensive per
unit cost than work on a modern building.
Before repointing a test panel should be selected which includes all
types of masonry on the building,joint styles, and types of problems
likely to be encountered on the job. The old mortar should generally
be removed to a minimum depth of 2 l/2 times the width of the joint
to ensure an adequate bond and should not be removed with power
tools such as saws or impact hammers. These methods will damage
the bricks by breaking off the edges.
A good repointing job should last from 50- 100 years and should
guarantee the long life of the mortar joint, the wall, and the historic
building.
For specific methods for repointing, owners, contractors, and
architects should obtain Preservation Brief #2- Repointin~,: Mortar
Joints in Historic Brick Buildings.
i
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Paint
Painting the exterior of historic buildings is an important part of the
overall maintenance of the building. The main purpose of paint is
to insure that the exterior wood remain from moisture, which is the
primary cause of deterioration. While paint must be reapplied every
five to eight years, the quicker the building owner attends to signs
of weathering the easier it is to repaint.
It is often possible to thoroughly clean those portions of the building
which need to be painted and, with light sanding, apply the paint.
When crazing, blistering, and wrinkling are identified, the surface
must be sanded to the next sound layer before painting. When there
is severe peeling and other evidence of complete paint failure, it may
be necessary to remove the paint.
In many cases, however, the historic building has been neglected for
a number of years and the paint problems may be severe. In the most
severe cases, the paint may have to be removed. Building owners
should be cautioned that removing paint should be avoided unless
absolutely essential. According to the guidelines issued by the
National Park Service, the general approach should be to remove
paint to the next sound layer using the gentlest means possible.
Removal of paint can be achieved with one of three methods:
sanding or scraping, heat (heat plate or heat gun), and chemicals. All
three methods should be conducted with the greatest of care and
caution.
For specific methods for removing paint, owners, contractors, and
architects should obtain Preservation Brief #10 - Exterior Paint
Problems on Historic Woodwork.
Color
Selecting a color for a the exte1ior woodwork of a historic building
requires careful thought and consideration. The fJrst choice is to
paint the woodwork the original color. Historic photographs can be
used to detennine the value of the original colors--whether or not it
was a dark hue, a medium hue, or a light hue. The exact color, or
clues to earlier paint application, can be found by using a pocketknife
to pry up loose paint. Areas to investigate would inc\ude areas that
have been protected from the weather as much as possible.
Past colors can sometimes be detennined by sanding a small area in
a circular motion to create a miniature crater. This often reveals
each of the old layers of paint.
If the original paint color cannot be detennined, the building owner
should select a historic color appropriate for the district. Many paint
companies offer a selection of authentic historic colors.
The fmal section of a paint color or colors should also include
consideration of the colors used on neighboring buildings.
Page 33
Cleaning and Maintenance
The care of the historic buildings is similar to the care of any
building, however, the age of the materials and the availability of
replacement materials offers a unique challenge to the building
owner. It is imponant, therefore, to conduct a complete evaluation
of the structure before initiating a cleaning or maintenance program.
Most of downtown Okmulgee's buildings originally had wooden
storefronts and wooden windows. If the original materials remain,
every effon should be made to repair and retain the historic features.
Where the original storefront has been removed, the building owner
has the option to repair the existing materials or to replace the
storefront with an accurate restoration or a contemporary design
which is compatible with the rest of the building.
Simple methods can generally be used to repair minor deterioration.
If the wood shows signs of rot, it should be dried and a fungicide
should be applied to all decayed areas and treated with two or three
applications of boiled linseed oil (24 hours between applications).
The cracks and holes should be filled with putty, the joints caulked,
and the surface primed and painted.
If the wood shows signs of decay, the preferred method of repair is
to strengthen and stabilize the wood with semi-rigid epoxies.
Historic wooden features which are unable to be repaired should be
replaced with new pieces, identical to the original.
Masonry storefronts have special problems including disintegration
of the monar, paint applied over the brick or stone, and openings
which have been enlarged or enclosed.
Repainting the brick or stone is an imponant part of the maintenance
program of a historic building. Repainting is the replacement of
monar. Many tum-of-the-century buildings were constructed with
monar which was mixed with sand from local sources. After 50 or
75 years, the monar may break down and the result is moisture
problems.
However, it is often unnecessary to repoint the entire building.
According to the National Park Service publications, repainting
should be limited to areas in which so much monar is missing that
water accumulates in the joints, causing funher deterioration. The
new mortar should duplicate the composition, color, texture, and
hardness, as well as the joint size and profile of the original. A test
of the new mortar should be conducted in a small area before the
entire project begins.
If the brick or stone appears to be dirty, it should be cleaned with the
gentlest means possible, such as water and a mild detergent. If it
appears to be stained, the source of the discoloration should be
investigated and resolved before the stain is removed.
Brick or stone which has been painted should be carefully evaluated
before removal of the paint is considered. It is possible that the
reason the building was painted was to solve moisture problems or
to hide alterations or additions. In some cases it may be preferable
to retain existing paint. Removal of pain may be attempted, but only
by using specially formulated chemical paint removers. No abrasive
techniques should be considered.
If a building owner is considering removing paint from a brick or
stone building, the affect on the mortar should also be considered.
Wooden Windows
The windows on historic buildings are an important architectural
features. In all cases, every attempt should be made to retain the
original window materials, including the glass. If the windows are
too deteriorated to repair, the building owner should make every
effort to replace the window with a window which replicates the
exterior detail form and finish of the historic window.
In evaluating the physical condition of the building's windows, an
attempt should be made to determine the cause of the deterioration.
Replacing an existing window with a new window will not always
solve the problems.
Moisture, the chief cause of many problems, is generally the first
thing to consider. Is water entering around the edges of the frames?
Is the glazing putty cracked, loose, or missing? Does the putty on
the interior side have a good seal. Does the sill slope downward
from the building? The poor condition of the paint may also be a
result of excess moisture.
Page 35
New Construction
New construction on vacant lots in built-up areas such as downtown
Okmulgee is known as infilldevelopment. As commercial buildings
were constructed in the downtown area it was not uncommon for
some lots to lay vacant for quite some time before a building was
erected. As the years went by, frre and other catastrophes, also
resulted in vacant lots. In more recent years, deterioration and
condemnation has ied to the demolition of some downtown buildings.
Possible new construction on these vacant lots, which now remain
and are located within the downtown historic district, must be
addressed.
To maintain the historic integrity of the district, it is important to
design new buildings which are thoughtfully designed to blend in
with and complement the surrounding historic buildings. New
construction should not copy the existing buildings, but rather it
should take into consideration the style, scale, and materials of the
surrounding historic buildings and should be designed to be
compatible, yet clearly definable, as a building of its own time.
•
Site Development
In order to preserve the continuity of Okmulgee's downtown
blocks, the front facade of a new building should have the same
set backs as the adjoining or adjacent buildings on the same
block.
•
Scale
In order to preserve the harmony and compatibly in scale among
the buildings in downtown Okmulgee the existing height and
depth should be consistent with the average height and depth of
the adjacent buildings. On new construction, the features
present on the first floor elevation of the adjacent buildings
should be reflected in the design of the new building. And, the
number of stories should be the average of the number of stories
of the adjacent buildings. The majority of buildings in downtown
Okmulgee are two stories, therefore, this height is the
recommended height.
•
Form
The design ofthe buildings in downtown Okmulgee are similar
in form with similartteannents used for the storefronts, windows,
and doors. The building facades are generally flat, vertical
planes that are divided into separate elements, and contemporary
adaptations of such elements should also be preserved. These
elements include windows, doors, lintels, cornices, pilasters,
columns, and storefronts.
•
Materials
A number of materials are used in Okmulgee's downtown
historic .district and include wood, brick, limestone, cast iron,
concrete, terra cotta, and pressed tin. New construction in the
district should be designed using these same materials or with
materials which are compatible. However, the design and
construction methods should be clearly distinguishable from
the original historic buildings.
The predominant door and window patterns in downtown
Okmulgee exhibit a regularity in proportion, size of openings,
and order in which they are arranged. In general, the f1rst floors
have large display windows with a single or double entry and the
second floors have single or paired, double-hung wooden
windows. The glazing is clear, not tinted. Remodeling projects
or new construction should avoid a design that is not compatible
with the established pattern.
•
Color
Thecolorofthe materials selected fornew construction must be
compatible with those of the surrounding buildings and may be
selected from those colors historically used in the downtown.
However, colors which were not historically used in the
downtown may also be selected to delineate new buildings or
additions from existing buildings.
Page 37
Additions
When designing an addition, Do...
Don't...
Design the addition to attach to the historic building on a secondary
elevation.
Design the addition to appear to have been built in the same period.
It should be clear that the new addition is "new" not "historic."
Reduce the size of the new addition in relationship to the historic
building.
Build an addition where major details or architectural .elements
would be destroyed.
Limit the size and number of openings between the old building and
the new building.
Don't remove important surface features or replace or cover them
with inappropriate materials.
Design the new addition to be "compatible with the size, scale,
color, materials, and character'' of the building to which it is
attached or to the district.
Don't sandblast, use harsh chemical cleaners or strippers, or use
high pressure washes that would cause deterioration of the surface.
Don't use chemical sealers or other inappropriate coatings on waUs
and other surfaces in place of adequate maintenance and protection
from water.
Don't add skylights and mechanical equipment in a way that
damages or obscures important architectural feature or is clearly
visible from the street.
lnfill Buildings
When designing infill buildings, Do..•
Don't•••
Use exterior materials traditional found in the downtown, such as
brick, sandstone, limestone, and wood.
Use plastic, vinyl, or aluminum as an exterior finish material, unless
other guidelines' compliance for an exceptional project serves to
appropriately introduce the "new age" materials.
Use building setbacks, height, and shape similar to those of
surrounding buildings.
Include windows and architectural detailing at the stteet level to
create a sense of pedesttian scale.
Establish a clearly defined main en tty, orient toward the front, with
parking and service entties toward the rear.
Break up the traditional geometty of building patterns along a street
by altering setbacks or design buildings radically larger or smaller
than others in the area.
Design buildings with blank walls along the frontage which
historically determined the lot's address.
Page 39
Signage
Signage for historic buildings should also be considered a part of the
restoration effort of the property. It is the final touch which can
make the project authentic. Signs let passersby know where and
what kind of a business is located in that particular building.
Before designing a new sign for a historic building, a building owner
or merchant may want to look for historic photographs which may
indicate where the original sign was once located. Old photographs
can also reveal the type of sign which was originally used. Historic
signage was typically placed on a board above the clerestory
windows or painted on the storefront window. Sometimes the sign
was painted directly on the brick in an area located near the cornice
of the building.
Historic signage was typically designed for the pedestrian and was
small in scale. Projecting signs were common, however, were
generally 16 feet square or smaller. Projecting signs can be hung
from the building at a 90 degree angle and should be at least 10 feet
from the sidewalk.
The use of awnings was also typical for tum-of-the-century
downtown buildings. When a awning is used, it is possible to paint
or sew the name of the business directly on the canvas. H the awning
is to be used as the main signboard for the business, other large signs
should be removed from the building.
Signs which would be inappropriate for downtown Okmulgee
would include plastic signs and lighted signs (unless documented).
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The number of signs should be limited to one sign on each side of
the building. Buildings located in the middle of the block should
limit their signs to one for each business.
New signs and advenising displays located in the Okmulgee
Downtown Historic District are to be reviewed by the Historic
Preservation Commission. Building owners should submit the
following information to the H. P. Commission before erecting a
new sign:
(
f--
OKMULGEE DOWNTOWN DINER
)
DDDDDDDDI
r-
• A drawing of the proposed sign which shows the dimensions,
materials, lettering, color, and suppon system.
•
A sketch of the building facade showing the location of the sign.
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Parking Lots
Parking lots are important to the success of any commercial district,
however they are an intrusion into a historic district and every effort
should be made to integrate them into the overall downtown design.
In Okmulgee, due to fire and deterioration, a number of open spaces
have been created. A few have been converted to parking lots, while
other remain vacant. Careful consideration should be given to the
overall appearance of each lot.
Trees and other vegetation should be integrated into the design of
each lot. The type of trees selected should be historically appropriate
to the area and the future maintenance of the tree should be planned
in advance.
Planting beds areal so important, however, easy maintenance should
also be a part of the plan.
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The main entrance of historic buildings was generally considered to
be the front door to accommodate pedestrian traffic. Now, many of
Okmulgee's parking lots are located in the rear of the building and
it is easier for customers to park in the back and enter the business
The back door should be considered in the restoration of the
building. The use of a back enttance gives the merchant a second
opportunity to advertise his/her business by placing a second sign or
adding an awning. The enttance should also be evaluated for safety.
from the 11 deUyecy 11 door
A mmp or stair rajls ma_y have to
he odded
Page43
Street Accessories
As defined by the Historic Preservation Ordinance, street accessories
include trash receptacles, benches, advertising displays, signs,
lights, hydrants, and landscaping. Street furniture is an important
part of the overall image of the downtown. In downtown Okmulgee,
which has been designated a historic district, it is even more
important to ch09se appropriate street furniture which will enhance
the surrounding historic buildings.
Building owners and merchants should be encouraged to add
seasonal landscaping at the base of trees or put out planters during
the summer months.
Sandwich boards, which have two sides for advertising and are
portable, are appropriate for downtown Okmulgee.
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Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credits
What to do ...
Tax incentives from the federal govemmenthaveplayed an important
role in historic preservation over the past ten years. The National
Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, administers the
federal governments' historic preservation programs. Substantial
rehabilitation of income-producing buildings can qualify for an
investment tax credit under the tax provisions of the Tax Act of 1986
which allows a 20% credit for certified historic structures.
1. Contact the City of Okmulgee or the State Historic Preservation
Office to determine if your building is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places, is a contributing property in the
Okmulgee Downtown Historic District, or is eligible to be so.
This may require initiation of Part One of the Historic Preservation
Certification Application.
A certified historic structure is any structure, subject to depreciation
as defined by the Internal Revenue Code, that is:
• listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places;
or,
• is a contributing property in a registered historic district; or,
• is eligible to be listed individually; or,
• is a contributing property within a potential National Register
historic district.
2. Obtain the Historic Preservation Certification Application and
a set of guidelines for rehabilitation from the State Historic
Preservation Office to determine what types of changes are
allowed.
3. Discuss your project with the preservation architect at the State
Historic Preservation Office.
This definition would include the majority of buildings included in
the Downtown Okmulgee Historic District.
4. Fill out the forms, receive approval, and begin rehabilitation.
This is Part Two of the Historic Preservation Cenification
Application.
In order the receive the tax credits, the project must be a "certified
rehabilitation." The rehabilitation work must be reviewed for
compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for
Rehabilitation.
5. When the project is complete, turn in Part Three of the Historic
Preservation Certification Application. A final inspection by
the State Historic Preservation Office and the Owner precedes
the certification of the project by the National Park Service.
A certified rehabilitation is any rehabilitation of a certified historic
structure which the National Park Service has certified to the
Secretary of the Treasury as being consistent with the historic
character of such structure and, where applicable, with the district
in which such structure is located.
If you are interested in applying for tax credits, please contact the
State Historic Preservation Office at 405-521-6249.
The application process for Historic Preservation Certification is
used to identify eligible buildings and certify their rehabilitation.
Although this is the only tax incentive program currently available,
please contact the City of Okmulgee if you are considering
rehabilitating your property. The City Staff will be able to give you
additional information if your building is located in the Okmulgee
Downtown Historic District.
Page 45
Glossary
Adaptive Use: the restrained alteration of a historic or architectural
resource to accommodate uses for which the resources were not
originally constructed in such a way in which to maintain the
general historic character.
Architectural Resources: districts, structures, buildings,
monuments, sites and landscaping that possess historical interest or
artistic merit, or which are particularly representative of their class
or periods or represent achievements in cultures, architecture,
engineering technology or design.
Certificate of Appropriateness: the official document issued by
the Historic Preservation Commission of the City of Okmulgee
approving any application for permission to construct, erect,
demolish, move, reconstruct, rehabilitate, restore, stabilize or alter
any structure within a historic district.
Certified Local Government (CLG): a local government that has
been certified to carry out the purposes of the National Historic
Preservation Act as amended in accordance with the procedures and
guidelines set forth in the certified local government program for
Oklahoma as approved by the Secretary of Interior.
Certified Local Government Funds: that portion of the State
Historic Preservation Office's annual allocation from the historic
preservation fund set aside for certified local governments.
Design Guidelines: criteria developed by preservation commissions
to identify design concerns for historic landmarks and districts and
to help property owners ensure that rehabilitation and new
construction continue the integral character of designated buildings
or districts.
Historic District: a geographically definable area as designated by
Ordinance of that City Commission which may contain one or more
significant landmarks and which may have within its boundaries
other property or structures while not of such historic and/or
architectural significance to be designated as landmarks, nevertheless,
contribute to the over-all visual characteristics of the district.
11-
Landmark: an individual structure, building, site or monument
which contributes to the historical, architectural, or archaeological
heritage of the City of Okmulgee and is worthy of rehabilitation,
restoration, and/or preservation.
Restoration: the process of accurately recovering all or part of the
form and detail of the resource and its setting at a particular period
of time by means of removal of later work and the replacement or
duplication of missing earlier work.
National Historic Landmark: any building, district, site, or
structure that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Significant characteristics of historical or architectural
resources: those characteristics of historical, architectural or
cultural quality and integrity ofits setting and which include, but are
not limited to building materials, details, height, mass, proportion,
rhythm, scale, setback, setting, shape, street accessories, and
workmanship.
Preservation: the adaptive use, conservation, protection,
reconstruction, restoration, orrehabilitation or stabilization of sites,
buildings, districts, structures, monuments or other resources
significant to the heritage of the people of the City of Okmulgee.
Rehabilitation: the process ofreturning the historical or architectural
resources to the state of efficiency or soundness by repair or
alteration designed to encourage its continued use but without
noticeably changing the exterior appearance of the resource.
Street Accessories: ihose sidewalks or those street fixtures which
provide cleanliness, comfort, direction, or safety and are compatible
in design to their surroundings and include, but are not limited to
trash receptacles, benches, advertising displays, signs, lights,
hydrants, landscaping, including but not limited to trees, shrubbery,
and planters.
Page 47
List of Resources
Office of Historic Preservation
Oklahoma Historical Society
621 N. Robinson, Suite 375
Oklahoma City, Ok 73102
(405) 521-6249
Melvena Heisch, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
Harry Simms, Jr., Preservation Architect
Marsha Weisiger, Architectural Historian
Marshall Gettys, Historical Archaeologist
OklahomaMain Street Program
Oklahoma Department of Commerce
6601 Broadway Extension
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73116
(405) 841-5124
Susie Clinard, State Coordinator
Ron Frantz, Architect
The Association for Preservation Technology .
P. 0. Box 8178
Fredericksburg, Va. 22404
(703) 373-1621
Publication: APT Bulletin
National Trust for Historic Preservation
1785 Massachusetts Ave., N. W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 673-4000
Mountains/Plains Regional Office
511 16th Street, Suite 700
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 623-1504
Provide grants and assistance directly to the region, including
Oklahoma.
Page 49
University of Oklahoma
Western History Collection
Monnet Hall
(405) 325-3641
Resources: Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
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#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
U. S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Preservation Assistance Division
Technical Preservation Services
440 "S" Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20243
Publications:
The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and
Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings. Copies available
upon request from the State Historic Preservation Office.
Technical Preservation Services, National Service, Preservation
Briefs, a series of pamphlets on renovation and restoration problems
Copies available upon request from the State Historic Preservation
Office.
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
#13
# 14
#15
#16
# 17
# 18
The Cleaning and Waterproof Coating of Masonry Buildings
Repqinting Mortar Joints in Historic Brick Buildings
Conserving Energy in Historic Buildings
Roofing our Historic Buildings
Preservation of Historic Adobe Buildings
Dangers of Abrasive Cleaning to Historic Buildings
The Preservation of Historic Glazed Architectural TerraCotta
Aluminum and Vinyl Sidings on Historic Buildings
The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows
Exterior Paint Problems on Historic Woodwork
Rehabilitating Historic Storefronts
The Preservation of Historic Pigmented Structural Glass
The Repair and Thermal Upgrading of Historic Steel Windows
New Exterior Additions to Historic Buildings
Preservation of Historic Concrete: Problems and General
Approaches
The Use ofSubstituteMaterialson Historic Buildings Exteriors
Architectural Character: Identifying the Visual Aspects of
Historic Buildings as an Aid to Preservation ofTheir Character
Rehabilitating Interiors in Historic Buildings: Identifying and
Preserving Character-defining Elements
II
#19 The Repair and Replacement of Historic Wooden Shingle
Roofs
#20 The Preservation of Historic Barns
#21 Repairing Historic Flat Plaster- Walls and Ceilings
#22 The Preservation and Repair of Historic Stucco
#23 Preserving Historic Ornamental Plaster
#24 Heating, Ventilating, and Cooling Historic Buildings:
Problems and Recommended Approaches
#25 The Preservation of Historic Signs
#26 The Preservation and Repair of Historic Log Buildings
#27 The Maintenance and Repair of Architectural Cast Iron
#28 Painting Historic Interiors
#29 The Repair, Replacement, and Maintenance of Historic Slate
Roofs
#30 The Preservation and Repair of Historic Clay Tile Roofs
Architectural Styles
McAlester, Virginia and Lee, A Field Guide to American Houses.
1988: Alfred A. Knopf.
Whiffen, Marcus, American Architecture since 1780: A Guide to
the Styles. 1969: MIT Press.
For Further Information •.•
These booksandotherson preservation are available at the Okmulgee
City Hall, Community Development Office.
Copies of the architectural/historic survey reports of downtown
Okmulgee;
National Register nomination for Downtown Okmulgee;
Oklahoma Main Street Program. Design Guidelinesfor Revitalizing
Oklahoma's Downtowns. Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
1987.
Oklahoma Main Street Program. Oklahoma Sien Desien Guidelines.
Oklahoma Department of Commerce. 1986.
National Register nomination of Okmulgee Downtown Historic
District;
Individual survey forms of downtown buildings; and
Map of the Okmulgee Downtown Historic District.
Page 51
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